Nasal cavity

The nasal cavity is a large air filled space above and

behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal
fossae.[1] Each
septum divides the cavity into two fossae
fossa is the continuation of one of the two nostrils.
The nasal cavity is the uppermost part of the
respiratory system and provides the nasal passage for
inhaled air from the nostrils to the nasopharynx and
rest of the respiratory tract.
 Nasal cavity

Head and neck.

Conducting passages
Details

Part of Nose

Identifiers

Latin cavum nasi; cavitas nasi

MeSH D009296

TA A06.1.02.001

FMA 54378
FMA 54378

Anatomical terminology

The paranasal sinuses surround and drain into the nasal

cavity.

Structure
The term "nasal cavity" can refer to each of the two
fossae of the nose, or to the two sides combined.

The lateral wall of each nasal cavity mainly consists of

the maxilla. However, there is a deficiency that is
compensated by the perpendicular plate of the
palatine bone, the medial pterygoid plate, the labyrinth
of ethmoid and the inferior concha. The paranasal
sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity through
small orifices called ostia. Most of these ostia
communicate with the nose through the lateral nasal
wall, via a semi-lunar depression in it known as the
infundibulum. The infundibulum is bound laterally by a
projection known as the uncinate process.

The roof of each nasal cavity is formed in its upper

third to one half by the nasal bone and more inferiorly
by the junctions of the upper lateral cartilage and
nasal septum. Connective tissue and skin cover the
bony and cartilaginous components of the dorsum of
the nose.

The floor of the nasal cavities, which also form the

roof of the mouth, is made up by the bones of the hard
palate: the horizontal plate of the palatine bone
posteriorly and the palatine process of the maxilla
anteriorly. To the front of the nasal cavity is the nasal
vestibule and external opening, while the back blends,
via the choanae, into the nasopharynx.

The nasal cavity is divided in two by a vertical fin called

the nasal septum. On the sides of the nasal cavity are
three horizontal outgrowths called nasal conchae
(singular "concha") or turbinates. These turbinates
disrupt the airflow, directing air toward the olfactory
epithelium on the surface of the turbinates and the
septum. The vomeronasal organ is located at the back
of the septum and has a role in pheromone detection.

Segments
The nasal cavity is divided into two segments: the
respiratory segment and the olfactory segment.

The respiratory segment comprises most of each

nasal fossa and is lined with ciliated
pseudostratified columnar epithelium (also called
respiratory epithelium). The conchae, or turbinates,
are located in this region. The turbinates have a
very vascularized lamina propria (erectile tissue)
allowing the venous plexuses of their mucosa to
engorge with blood, restricting airflow and causing
air to be directed to the other side of the nose,
which acts in concert by shunting blood out of its
turbinates. This cycle occurs approximately every
two and a half hours.
The olfactory segment is lined with a specialized
type of pseudostratified columnar epithelium,
known as olfactory epithelium, which contains
receptors for the sense of the smell. This segment
is located in and beneath the mucosa of the roof of
each nasal cavity and the medial side of each middle
turbinate. Histological sections appear yellowish-
brown due to the presence of lipofuscin pigments.
Olfactory mucosal cell types include bipolar
neurons, supporting (sustentacular) cells, basal
cells, and Bowman's glands. The axons of the bipolar
neurons form the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I)
which enters the brain through the cribriform plate.
Bowman's glands are serous glands in the lamina
propria, whose secretions trap and dissolve
odoriferous substances.
Blood supply

There is a rich blood supply to the nasal cavity. In

some animals, such as dogs, the capillary beds flowing
through the nasal cavity help cool the blood flow to
the brain.

Blood supply comes from branches of both the internal

and external carotid artery, including branches of the
facial artery and maxillary artery. The named arteries
of the nose are:

Sphenopalatine artery and greater palatine artery,

branches of the maxillary artery.
Anterior ethmoidal artery and posterior ethmoidal
artery, branches of the ophthalmic artery
 Septal branches of the superior labial artery, a
branch of the facial artery, which supplies the
vestibule of the nasal cavity.[2]

Nerve supply

Innervation of the nasal cavity responsible for the

sense of smell is via the olfactory nerve, which sends
microscopic fibers from the olfactory bulb through
the cribriform plate to reach the top of the nasal
cavity.

General sensory innervation is by branches of the

trigeminal nerve (V1 & V2):

Nasociliary nerve (V1)

Nasopalatine nerve (V2)
 Posterior nasal branches of Maxillary nerve (V2)

The nasal cavity is innervated by autonomic fibers.

Sympathetic innervation to the blood vessels of the
mucosa causes them to constrict, while the control
of secretion by the mucous glands is carried on
postganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers
originating from the facial nerve.

Function
The two nasal cavities condition the air to be received
by the other areas of the respiratory tract. Owing to
the large surface area provided by the nasal conchae
(also known as turbinates), the air passing through
the nasal cavity is warmed or cooled to within 1
degree of body temperature. In addition, the air is
humidified, and dust and other particulate matter is
removed by nasal hair in the nostrils. The entire
mucosa of the nasal fossae is covered by a blanket of
mucus, which lies superficial to the microscopic cilia
and also filters inspired air. The cilia of the respiratory
epithelium move the secreted mucus and particulate
matter posteriorly towards the pharynx where it
passes into the esophagus and is digested in the
stomach. The nasal cavity also houses the sense of
smell and contributes greatly to taste sensation
through its posterior communication with the mouth
via the choanae.

Clinical significance
Diseases of the nasal cavity include viral, bacterial and
fungal infections, nasal cavity tumors, both benign and
much more often malignant, as well as inflammations
of the nasal mucosa. Many problems can affect the
nose, including:

Deviated septum - a shifting of the wall that divides

the nasal cavity into halves
Nasal polyps - soft growths that develop on the
lining of the nose or sinuses
Nosebleeds
Rhinitis - inflammation of the nose and sinuses
sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom
is a runny nose.
Nasal fractures, also known as a broken nose
 Common cold

See also
Nasal irrigation
Danger triangle of the face

References
1. "nasal fossa" . TheFreeDictionary.com.
2. Moore, Keith L; Dalley, Arthur F. (1999). Clinically
Oriented Anatomy. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.

External links
Look up nasal cavity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
 lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley
Norman (Georgetown University)
Gross anatomy dissection of the nasal cavity, video
[1] and [2]

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